Discovered on January 1 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres is the smallest dwarf planet in our Solar System. It is named after the Roman mother and grain Goddess, Ceres.

There has been some debate as to its classification and it was considered for reclassification as a planet in 2006, but it and Pluto were relegated to the dwarf planet category and there they stay.

Astrologers, however, still take Pluto and, to a lesser extent considering how recently it was discovered, Ceres, into account when making astrological calculations. Some astrologers have named Ceres the ruling planet of Virgo. The planet Ceres in a birth chart suggests that the native feels loved and nurtured and it is associated family bonds, female reproductive issues and major feminine rites of passage.